The Acoustics of Belt Singing
Thursday 3rd October 2024, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM (London Time)
Contemporary Commercial Music (CCM) covers a multitude of singing styles that have received less scientific attention than other types of singing. This is despite the fact that the vast majority of those who earn money singing (or teaching singing) do so in CCM styles. Belting − also referred to as the “musical theater” style or “broadway singing” − is a primary vocal quality in many styles of CCM.
Voice acoustics is an active area of research in many labs, including Dr. Meyer’s, where the science of singing is explored to inform (and improve) our pedagogical practice. However, voice acoustics is often a source of confusion for students and teachers alike.
In this workshop Dr. Meyer will present an overview of the acoustics of “belting” using layman’s terms appropriate for the beginning voice scientist and singing teacher alike. Particular emphasis will be given to instances where the first vocal tract resonance (which in the radiated sound is a “formant”) boosts the second harmonic of the sung tone (fR1 = 2fo). Though many sub-categories of “belt” may exist, a dominant 2fo (second harmonic) seems to be the common distinguishing spectral feature and an acoustic hallmark of belting.
Participants in this course will increase their knowledge of belt acoustics, and explore strategies for applying this knowledge in singing instruction.
🏷️ Price £30 (UK VAT inclusive)
🎥 Recording automatically sent to all who book (even if you cannot attend live)
▶️ Rewatch as many times as you like
📜 Certificate of attendance available
David Meyer
A leading scholar and researcher of the singing voice, David Meyer is an active performer, teacher, clinician, and voice scientist.
Attend this course for as little as £22 as part of the Voice Professional Training CPD Award Scheme.
Learn MoreSorry, this is an archived short course...
We have plenty of upcoming short courses coming soon. See details of some of them below or look at the full list of short courses.
Thursday 19th February 2026
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Thursday 26th February 2026
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
(London Time)
Performing Pain: Vocal Health in Emotional Roles!
Louisa Morgan
How connected are acted emotions to our real-life emotions? Are they expressed differently? Do they feel different in the body? This 2-part course with Louisa Morgan looks at the potential impact of acted emotion on vocal health, why we should consider it as voice practitioners, and how to care for our performers needing to work with it.
Tuesday 24th February 2026
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
(London Time)
Incorporating CBT principles within vocal health and voice care
Dr Luke Aldridge-Waddon
Join Dr Luke Waddon as he introduces the principles and techniques within cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) in relation to the voice and voice care. He will discuss psychological factors relevant to the development and maintenance of voice disorders and how these might be approached from a cognitive-behavioural perspective. He will describe theoretical concepts and therapeutic components often used within CBT and consider how these might be applied when working with voice users.
Tuesday 3rd March 2026
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
(London Time)
Sex differences in VOICE!
Dr Richard Lissemore
This two-hour workshop, led by performer, articulatory phoneticist, and voice physiologist, Dr. Richard Lissemore, will examine in detail the role that biological sex plays in the perception and pedagogy of singing voices. We'll consider how parameters such as anatomy, physiology, articulation, resonance, and radiated acoustics influence the perceptions and pedagogical decision-making of singing teachers.